Thursday, 11 April 2024

"Trapped In The Flash" | The Red Strings

On a recent walk about at Washington Square Park, I chanced on performance art type of dance by two talented Chinese women; Jiening (Sophia) Zhu and Jiyun (Annora) Dong, both actors and artists from the NYU Tisch Drama's Experimental Theatre Wing.

Described as "a conversation with red strings, feminism, experimental theater and the body", these graceful and lithe dancers spent about 2 hours showcasing their forthcoming “Trapped in the Flash”, a one-hour off off broadway show that follows the lives of three Chinese American characters from varied historical periods – a photographer, an actress, and a railroad worker. The narrative unfolds through non-linear vignettes that span their experiences in America and their ties to China. 

At first glance, I thought the performance might've been similar to Shibari, the Japanese rope bondage (also known as "kinbaku"), which is a modern form of rope bondage originating in Japan. However, it has nothing to do with it.

The performance "....is about being trapped. It's about trying to escape. It's an exploration about power and space."

There's also "The Red Thread of Fate"; an East Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology. It is commonly thought of as an invisible red cord around the finger of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation as they are "their one true love".









Call Me KIJU

Here are impromptu street portraits of Kiju on Crosby Street in Soho, NYC. Kiju is an alternative rock performer.